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Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

arstechnica.com

11–20 of 141 posts

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#11

The Strait of Hormuz is a such a historical f-up. 1) It cuts the oil supply 2) It creates the demand and infrastructure for non-US backed Oil 3) It gives Iran a revenue stream and domain over taxing the Strait where none existed before 4) Crypto happens outstide of reach of most sanctions 5) Not knowing your footing: This has now encompassed the placement of underseas cables and global connectivity 5) As time goes on…

You're taking this claim way too seriously. Iran is at war. This part of the information war. Nobody is going to pay fees to Iran to use internet cables.

This was all theory before the war. Now Iran knows they can blockade that Strait and makes these demands so they have much more leverage.

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#12

The Strait of Hormuz is a such a historical f-up. 1) It cuts the oil supply 2) It creates the demand and infrastructure for non-US backed Oil 3) It gives Iran a revenue stream and domain over taxing the Strait where none existed before 4) Crypto happens outstide of reach of most sanctions 5) Not knowing your footing: This has now encompassed the placement of underseas cables and global connectivity 5) As time goes on…

Starting a war with Iran without filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserves at $60/bbl was truly special.

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#13

The Strait of Hormuz is a such a historical f-up. 1) It cuts the oil supply 2) It creates the demand and infrastructure for non-US backed Oil 3) It gives Iran a revenue stream and domain over taxing the Strait where none existed before 4) Crypto happens outstide of reach of most sanctions 5) Not knowing your footing: This has now encompassed the placement of underseas cables and global connectivity 5) As time goes on…

You're taking this claim way too seriously. Iran is at war. This part of the information war. Nobody is going to pay fees to Iran to use internet cables.

What is nobody going to do if Iran military cuts cables?

Or blocks repair ships after normal accidental damage?

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're taking this claim way too seriously. Iran is at war. This part of the information war. Nobody is going to pay fees to Iran to use internet cables.

This was all theory before the war. Now Iran knows they can blockade that Strait and makes these demands so they have much more leverage.

They can make all the demands they want. I can demand you give me a thousand bitcoin to not burn your house down. That doesn't mean it has any remote chance of happening.

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#16

The Strait of Hormuz is a such a historical f-up. 1) It cuts the oil supply 2) It creates the demand and infrastructure for non-US backed Oil 3) It gives Iran a revenue stream and domain over taxing the Strait where none existed before 4) Crypto happens outstide of reach of most sanctions 5) Not knowing your footing: This has now encompassed the placement of underseas cables and global connectivity 5) As time goes on…

  1) Oman and Iran both have territorial waters that extend into the center of the strait. See #3
  2) What is "non-US backed oil?
  3) Every country has the right to control their territorial waters.
  4) Governments have worked hard to erode people's privacy rights such that crypto is not as untraceable as people still think.
  5) ?
  5) ?
  6) Let it happen.

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're taking this claim way too seriously. Iran is at war. This part of the information war. Nobody is going to pay fees to Iran to use internet cables.

This was all theory before the war. Now Iran knows they can blockade that Strait and makes these demands so they have much more leverage.

> Now Iran knows they can blockade that Strait and makes these demands so they have much more leverage

Tehran has more potential leverage inasmuch as they've credibly demonstrated they can block the Strait. Whether they have more actual leverage than before is uncertain–trade flows are routing around them. And their own shores remain blockaded. (Just because the U.S. has less leverage than it did before doesn't mean Iran necessarily has more.)

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#18

The Strait of Hormuz is a such a historical f-up. 1) It cuts the oil supply 2) It creates the demand and infrastructure for non-US backed Oil 3) It gives Iran a revenue stream and domain over taxing the Strait where none existed before 4) Crypto happens outstide of reach of most sanctions 5) Not knowing your footing: This has now encompassed the placement of underseas cables and global connectivity 5) As time goes on…

You're taking this claim way too seriously. Iran is at war. This part of the information war. Nobody is going to pay fees to Iran to use internet cables.

What's to stop Iran from using the threat of cutting those cables as leverage? A speedboat and a depth charge are all it takes, and neither are particularly difficult to make.

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#19
post #7

Aren't US citizens and corporations prohibited from paying anything to Iran due to sanctions?

In letter and spirit, yes. If you're in the club, no.

> If you're in the club, no

Evidence folks in the U.S. leadership are "paying antyhing to Iran"?

Re: Iran demands Big Tech pay fees for undersea Internet cables in Strait of Hormuz

#20
Looking at the map, I am failing to understand why any of the named American Big Tech companies would risk breaking sanctions to protect these cables. Why not just threaten your neighbouring countries instead? They have some skin in the game.
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